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Standard methods for testing the resistance of concrete to freezing andthawing with de-icing salt

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At present, for each freeze-thaw method, the preliminary conditions such as sample preparation, sample preliminary storage and saturation are carried out in somewhat different ways. The effects of these preliminary conditions on the freeze-thaw results have not yet been adequately clarified. The first technical objective was therefore to improve the test methods. The internal deterioration needs to be evaluated. Therefore, the second technical objective involved the measurement and representation of the internal deterioration to concrete resulting from freeze-thaw attack. In work package 1, the different test methods for scaling were improved. Work package 2 concentrated on the measurement and representation of the internal deterioration to concrete resulting from freeze-thaw attack. The test procedures were then described more precisely and a European Round Robin test was carried out in work package 3. This test, where 25 institutes from 11 different European countries were involved, compared the results measured in the individual laboratories and, through the comparison, generalised the test results. The purpose was to determine precision data. The results achieved in work package 1 showed that all test methods (slab-, cube-, CDF/CF test) were effective in describing the scaling of different types of concrete due to freeze-thaw cycles. Scaling is dependent on the minimum temperature but the dependence seemed to be negligible when the scaling exceeded a defined amount and the minimum temperature was below -18ºC. Furthermore, the quality of the test water especially the hardness of the water had a significant influence on the amount of scaling. The results in work package 2 showed that it was very difficult to set up a new test method to describe the internal damage of concrete. Currently, the slab test and the cube test are not yet suitable for characterizing the internal damage of concrete sufficiently, while the CIF test and the beam test are suitable for testing the internal deterioration. To achieve a quantitative statement, further research work is required. Finally, the Round Robin test showed that the precision data for the coefficient of variation for repeatability was in the range from 15 to 20% and for reproducibility in the range of 30 to 35%. The test methods can be regarded as being equally precise.

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